Next, we boarded the bus for a tour of districts close to the city. We couldn't believe our eyes when we saw a man juggling at the traffic lights - begging for change!
We dined at 'La Va Quita Echa' on rib filete, papas fritas, heuvos y cerveza. Entertainment included being serenaded by Latin musicians and Latin dancing - including Tango!
Next was a visit to 'Concha y Toro' winery.
The Concha y Toro Vineyard was founded by Don Melchor de Santiago Concha y Toro and his wife, Emiliana Subercaseaux, in 1883. To start the winery, he brought grape varieties from the Bordeaux region in France. The grapes that he brought were: Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Merlot, and Carmenère. The vineyard was incorporated as a stock company in 1923 and shares were sold in the Santiago stock market. Concha y Toro began exporting wine in March 1933 to the port of Rotterdam, Holland. In 1950, the winery began to acquire more vineyards and also began the process of adapting its business to new markets and meeting a higher demand.
In 1971, Eduardo Guilisasti Tagle became Chairman of the Board, who succeeded in expanding the company. In 1987, after partnering with U.S. importer Banfi Vintners, the company started to incorporate more advanced technology in all of its production stages. It also started using small French oak barriques. In 1994, shares of Viña Concha started trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
Not only the origins of Concha y Toro are connected to Chilean nobility and aristocracy. Nowadays the directory of the company is composed by the present Marquess of Casa Concha, a Chilean diplomat and ambassador. In 1999, the company's president Alfonso Larraín Santa María claimed the title of Marquess of Larraín in Spain. Her mother, the current Marchioness, gave Larraín the power to claim the title.
Concha y Toro produces several different wine styles including a Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc made from grapes the Maule Valley. They also produce a barrel fermented Chardonnay and a single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon named after the winery's founder, Don Melchor. The wine comes from the Puente Alto Vineyard in Maipo Valley.
This wine is available here in Australia! We enjoyed our tour and finished it with a free sample and wine glass souvenir! Of course, you'll see in the above photo, we bought take aways as well! Yummo!
Having an interesting time adjusting to the money: Chilean peso $US1 = 458 pesos.
Gotta have a few 'roadies'.
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